Hot Festival Tickets

It’s spring. That means you should be in the thick of
planning your summer festival lineup.

Colorado’s slew of sunny season
festivals runs the gamut from beer fests to mushroom hunts, to eclectic music,
wild art and mountain biking. Nary a weekend passes in this state without a
road-trip-worthy jaunt. Every one promises a celebratory atmosphere amidst a
crowd that is passionate about the theme du jour. Go for what you already love
– or venture into the proverbial mosh pit and let them lure you deep into the
festival spirit of something new. Here are three gatherings you shouldn’t miss
this year.

Mountainfilm

When the lights dim at Telluride’s Sheridan Opera House
during Mountainfilm, you stand a good chance of being wedged between two
legendary climbers watching a film about their epic ascent of a Himalayan
giant. This is the great convergence of sport, art and science, where the
glitterati of all three merge and mingle for four days of adventure-heavy
documentary films that tug your conscience and stoke your adrenaline. The film
lineup is always mesmerizing and the screening venues scattered throughout
downtown and Mountain Village all have worthy perks. The scene is electric and
ultra casual, including evening films screened outside in Town Park, where even
your dog is welcome. Partake in the ice cream social on main street and an
organic community picnic for the awards ceremony. Don’t skip the stellar
morning coffee talks with filmmakers and live characters right off the festival
screens. Why’s it a hot ticket? 75 new films
from around the world, screened with all the insight of the filmmakers (and
many of the featured subjects) on hand to discuss them in depth – maybe even
over a beer.
Inside scoop: Go early for the smart, engaging Moving Mountains Symposium,
all day on Friday, May 23, where the theme this year is Wilderness. Believe it
– this may be better than going to TED. May 23-26 in Telluride;
www.mountainfilm.org

Photo courtesy Jake Laub

Wanderlust

Colorado’s yoga festival is groovy, laid back and primed for
you to experience every mind- and body-bendy practice you’ve ever imagined.
After cutting its teeth at Copper Mountain during the past few years, Wanderlust
moves to Aspen Snowmass for 2014. By day, sweat with the nation’s top yoga
teachers and experience styles of yoga that you may have never tried before.
Step off the mat to listen to life-changing talks, experience meditations
amidst the vibration of singing bowls, or push your envelope while learning
slackline yoga or the partnering antics of acroyoga. After dark, the music,
circus acts, fire spinning and multimedia art starts rockin’. There is magic in
Wanderlust’s giant love-fest. The dance parties are sure proof that practicing
yoga fuels an energy that is downright electric. Why’s it a hot ticket? Yoga classes
with Seane Corn, Shiva Rea, Rod Stryker, Tias Little. Dance parties with
Trombone Shorty, Moby. Really good shopping at the Wanderlust marketplace.Inside scoop: Custom-tailor your
Wanderlust schedule so you can experience a variety of teachers, and don’t
forget to schedule time out for some of the amazing talks. Your body will thank
you as much as your mind.July 3-6 in Snowmass; www.wanderlustfestival.com

Lyons

The town of Lyons got soaked last fall. But they are rising
from the flood and the legendary festival grounds at Planet Bluegrass are
primed to deliver another season of epic music, including the 42nd
annual RockyGrass and the 24th annual Rocky Mountain Folks Festival.
Pick your musical poison, bluegrass or folk – neither one will disappoint. Now
is the perfect time to return to this quaint town on the other side of Rocky
Mountain National Park, where you can show your love for the community while
sipping micro-brews at Oskar Blues, waging some friendly competition at Lyons
Classic Pinball, then taking in the sweet sound of fiddle, mandolin and banjo
from the shady riverside festival grounds. Now that the St. Vrain River has
returned to its normally tranquil state, plop your chair in the water to keep
cool (you can still see the stage) or tube downstream beneath Lyons’ imposing
red cliffs. All the festival camping is within walking distance and New Belgium
keeps the beer taps flowing. The river’s sandy beach is bona fide kid paradise.
Why’s it a hot ticket? The lineup,
of course: Sam Bush, Béla Fleck, Jerry Douglas, Peter Rowan Noam Pikelny &
Friends, and Ricky Skaggs & Bruce Hornsby with Kentucky Thunder and more at
RockyGrass. They make you wait until later in the winter for the Folks Fest
lineup, but rest assured it’ll be stellar.Inside scoop: Be persistent. The
Festivarian Forum on Planet Bluegrass’ website is a surefire way to secure
tickets for sold-out shows. Scalping is deemed “extremely un-festivarian and strictly forbidden.”RockyGrass is July 25-27 & Folks
Festival is Aug. 15-17 in Lyons; www.bluegrass.com